Japan, the world's third-largest oil consumer, said crude oil imports rose for a fourth consecutive month in January, gaining 8.6 percent from a year earlier.
Crude oil imports rose to 23.1 million kiloliters in January, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a report released Friday.
The country imports more than 99 percent of its oil needs, according to the ministry. The U.S. and China are the world's biggest oil users.
Imports from the Middle East jumped 12.6 percent to 19.9 million kiloliters, with those from Saudi Arabia surging 33.9 percent to 6.17 million kiloliters, the ministry said.
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